JULY/AUGUST 2004 What’s Inside: Roadside Reflections . . . . 2 “Trails to Success” Conference a Success in Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Capital Corner . . . . . . . . .3 Designation as One of America’s BywaysTM . . . . . .4 America’s BywaysTM — Center Stage at TIA’s International Pow Wow(R) in Los Angeles . . . . . . . . . .6 Driving the Byways . . . . .8 Who’s Who and Where! The Updated Directory for Byways . . . . . . . . . . .10 Celebrating Celebrity— Advocates For Take Pride in America Program . . . .11 Outgoing Director Dan Marriott Recognized for Leadership Contributions . . . . . . . . . .12 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 SIDEBAR: Published in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration by: America’s BywaysTM Resource Center Arrowhead Regional Development Commission 227 West First Street Suite 610 Duluth, MN 55802 1-800-4BYWAYS, Ext. 5 Resource Stewardship: Guarding the Essence of Your Byway Become a Byway Steward Resources are the core of your Byway. Initially, those resources draw individuals representing different groups together to define the corridor and create a management plan. Resources also give root to a Byway’s agreed-upon values. Resources represent the intrinsic qualities that define a Byway for designation purposes. Unfortunately, as Byway groups move on from the initial stages of CMP preparation and designation the resources often get left behind. Tangible items that can be inventoried and categorized suddenly have very emotional strings attached to them. Byway groups find themselves in the uncomfortable world of local politics with little or no control over those very resources. By their nature, Byway groups represent many backgrounds, interest groups and geographic points along a particular corridor. More than likely, no one person is in control of all of the resources along the Byway. Nor is it always appropriate for Byway groups to tell another entity how to manage something. How does a Byway volunteer group with no regulatory control properly oversee the longevity of irreplaceable resources that together comprise the Byway character? The answer may lie in understanding the nature of stewardship. Webster’s defines steward as “one who is called to exercise responsible care over treasure entrusted to him/her.” The definition includes careful management and implies the ability to envision a hoped-for future. Identifying the Essence Step away from the group dynamics, funding searches and everyday issues of your Byway group and ask some hard questions…What is the real essence of our Byway? What about this corridor drove our group to seek designation? Those elements are the ones that your group has taken the responsibility to care for. Recognizing the character or essence of a place is different than a list of individual parts. A firm handle on the essence of your byway—its significance—shows you where to concentrate your efforts. For instance, a Byway group may not like a new bridge proposed by the local Department of Transportation. The real essence of the Byway is a rugged and utilitarian corridor that has supported the travels of many individuals into the wilderness. The bridge neither detracts nor adds to the character. The bridge then becomes less of an issue than removal of access to those wild areas. Keep it Simple Remember the “little candy with a hole in it”? It wasn’t “a collection of round red, yellow, green and orange candies in a nice wrapper with pretty colors.” That could be any candy if you think about it. It was very clear from the start what defined the Lifesaver(TM). Can you convey the character of your Byway in two sentences or less? If it takes you more than two sentences and you list all the “flavors,” chances are you are still focusing on the parts and not the whole. Predict Change Change is inevitable. One key to effective stewardship is the ability to predict what will happen to your Byway over given periods of time. Take a Comprehensive Inventory In order to clearly find the essence, it is important to view your Byway from both an overall and detailed perspective. This is not guesswork, but a reflection on the direction of change you observed from your inventory and a realistic look at external forces affecting your corridor. Once you have a clear picture of what the future holds if you do nothing, you can put together a prioritized action plan to maintain the essential character of the corridor. Schedule Regular Reality Checks Revisit your Byway’s corridor management plan. Does it need to be updated to reflect what you predict will happen and who your partners will be? Does your strategic plan revolve around issues that sustain the character of your Byway or are there elements that are taking more of your group’s time and really not benefiting the character of your Byway? What do your marketing products communicate? Are they communicating a message about the essence of the Byway or merely a list of the various things to do and see? Remember, your Byway was designated for its distinction and intrinsic qualities, not the twenty-some individual attractions and shops. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate! The process of inventorying, predicting and planning will not alone overcome the last major hurdle to stewardship for your Byway’s resources—determining who manages what and how. The only real solution for that hurdle is communication. Communicating the very essence of the corridor gives all interested parties a common platform. Once all parties recognize what really creates your Byway’s feel and character, everyone can agree to work toward maintaining those qualities rather than feeling like personal interests are threatened by perceived definitions of the Byway. When your Byway organization looks ahead at the future, a number of outside groups and entities will either affect the change you have predicted or be directly impacted by it. Recognize these groups and make a plan to include them in your efforts. Collectively agreeing on a vision for the future and acknowledging the negative outcomes of not working together lays the groundwork for dozens of positive possibilities and opportunities. Remember, it is unlikely that any one person will oversee all the resources defining your Byway’s character; however, communicating the essence to the many groups that do have influence can yield powerful results. That is a true act of stewardship. BOX: TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY The following five steps are adapted from an upcoming manual from the America’s Byways Resource Center and Scenic America, Preserving Our Treasured Places: Guidelines for Managing Visual Quality on Scenic Byways. This process offers one way to craft a comprehensive inventory and presents the first step in identifying the essence. 1) Describe the overall impression. Begin at the largest scale and work your way down. If someone who has never visited your Byway calls and asks you to describe your Byway, what would you say? Can you “paint” a single-word picture, or is it necessary to describe it more like a film, flowing from one setting to the next? Is it the nature, the buildings or the people that set the tone for the overall impression? 2) List the treasures. Photograph or map the views most valued along the Byway. Examine these “high-value areas” and describe what elements contribute to defining these special places. How do these qualities support the intrinsic qualities that led to designation? 3) Relate the assets to each other. Traveling a Byway is not like sitting in a theater. At a theater, viewers sit in one location and the experience is fixed before them. Byway travelers experience the Byway while they physically pass through the landscape. Identify how the corridor’s visual sequences work together. How do the highly valued views relate to each other? 4) Evaluate the direction of change. Find photos from 10, 20 or even 50 years ago that represent some of the most highly valued areas. Is there a change in the natural environment or the built environment? What do you see as an indication of change today? 5) Ask what would be lost if these elements were gone. What would your Byway look and feel like if the treasures and assets were lost? Would some of these directly affect the feel and character or would their loss not be noticed in the larger picture of the Byway? PHOTO: Ultimately, resources give a Byway its distinction and character. SIDEBAR: How far into the future has your Byway group looked? Can you predict what will happen to the corridor in 10 years, 20 years or 50 years? Prediction is different from a strategic plan or vision. Prediction is what will happen if you do nothing. A vision is what you wish to happen and a strategic plan is how you will implement your vision. Roadside Reflections by Michelle Johnson, Deputy Director, America’s BywaysTM Resource Center I have a confession to make. A really big one. Here it is: I never carry pictures of my children. And it never fails that wherever I go, I am always asked for pictures. The grocery store clerk asks. My dentist asks. People I meet at the coffee shop or the mall ask. And my answer is always a sheepish “sorry.” You would think that by now I would know better. But I have always believed that you carry the best pictures in your heart. I can see the dimples, the shinning eyes and all the blonde curls. It’s just really hard to share “heart pictures” with anyone else. And even harder to explain why I don’t carry up-to-date pictures of my kids in my wallet. The “I carry the pictures in my heart” answer never quite satisfies others’ curiosity. What about pictures of your byway? You probably don’t keep pictures in your wallet, but I’m sure people ask you what your byway looks like or what is special about your byway. Potential travelers “ask” when they surf the Internet looking to make vacation plans. Take time to read this month’s lead article on resources, “Resource Stewardship: Guarding the Essence of Your Byway.” This article, plus one of the key learning points of the Power Workshops, explains the value of determining the essence of your byway. Think about your byway, its essence and special features and compare them to the pictures in your heart. What do you see? Now look at the pictures your byway organization uses to promote your byway and the images on www.byways.org. Are they similar? Do they say what you want them to say? If you can see the essence of your byway in the images your organization uses to describe your byway, you are on the right track. So what’s the next step if you are ready to share your “heart pictures” with the world? You could hire a professional photographer. That requires money and the use of the images could be restricted. If there is a professional or amateur photographer that lives along your byway, you could share your compelling story and perhaps the photographer would donate some images to your worthy cause. Other options include tapping into community groups, high school art students, and local or state tourism offices. Your byway organization could host a photo contest or create a calendar of byway images. Consider your byway organization’s vision and goals as you search for new pictures or revisit your current images. Is your vision articulated in your images? Check out the May/June 2004 issue of Vistas (www.bywaysonline.org, click on resources, then the Vistas logo) for details on preparing media-ready photos. The article offers tips on how to prepare media- ready photos from copyright issues to digital images. If you have questions regarding how to prepare images for use on www.byways.org, please contact National Scenic Byways Online at 1-800-4BYWAYS, extension 3, then press 5. Good luck to you with your “heart pictures.” I’ll be better about sharing my heart pictures with the rest of the world. But just in case I meet you and I don’t have a real picture to share, here’s a “heart picture” for you. PHOTO: Michelle holding her three children “TRAILS TO SUCCESS” Conference a Success in Idaho “Trails to Success” was the theme for the 16th annual Idaho Governor’s Conference on Recreation and Tourism held in Twin Falls, Idaho May 5-7, 2004. Nearly 240 people from the northwest attended with 33 vendors contributing to the event hosted by the College of Southern Idaho. Jay Casio of “Northwest Backroads,” a Northwest Cable TV program, gave the first day’s keynote presentation. Afternoon workshops during the first day centered around Internet marketing, public relations marketing, building project support, and sustainability. The latter workshop was presented by Michelle Johnson of the America’s Byways Resource Center. Betsy O’Rourke of the Travel Industry Association of America gave the keynote presentation for the second day. She created the “See America’s Byways” and “See America’s National Parks” themes as ways to promote the USA to residents and international visitors. Workshops of the second day included such topics as trail marketing presented by Carol Graham of the International Selkirk Loop, which has two Idaho Scenic Byways on its route; preservation/stewardship, a case study presented by Sandi McFarlane of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail; and interpretation/visitor services, a case study showing how to create community support and enhance the local economy, presented by Jane Weber of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. One of the many activities of the three-day conference was a tour of the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway, showcasing the many sites along the byway, such as the Hagerman Fossil Beds, 1000 Springs Preserve, the Malad Gorge State Park, and the Perrine Bridge spanning the Snake River Canyon. The newly designed Scenic Byway route markers are going up on Idaho’s 25 scenic and historic byways. The Idaho Transportation Department has contracted with Mountain Post Digital Imaging to design the byway signs and information boards which are funded by a National Scenic Byways grant. PHOTO: Newly designed Scenic Byway markers and information boards appear along Thousand Springs Scenic Byway in Idaho. CAPITAL CORNER Exciting Updates By Derrick Crandall, President, American Recreation Coalition Russian Heritage Highway Update Recently, we told you about Nevada meetings between Mikhail Gorbachev and champions of U.S. byways. The meetings were designed to help create the Russian Heritage Highway. Initially conceived in 1993, the route seeks to celebrate the art, history, music, culture and politics of the corridor. The 435-mile road between Moscow and St. Petersburg links the birthplaces, academies, residences and performance venues of cultural icons such as Tchaikovsky, Dostoevsky, Rachmaninov, Pushkin, Chekhov, Stravinsky, Tolstoy and many others. The United States has established world-leadership in creation of special areas and systems in the conservation and recreation fields, including the leading systems of national parks, wildlife refuges and wilderness. It is only fitting, then, that the National Scenic Byways Program is now being emulated in other nations! Former Nevada Governor Bob Miller and byways and tourism champ Tom Tait will lead a delegation of top tourism and transportation leaders to Russia in August. They will meet with Russia’s top federal and state highway and tourism interests on the next steps in the development of the Highway. Mr. Gorbachev will play a key part in these discussions. Mr. Gorbachev is enthusiastic about the byway’s potential to increase protection for sites along the route, bring Americans and other visitors into contact with Russians and stimulate investment in communities where economic changes—and particularly a shift from subsidized collective farming—has caused an outflow of population. He is very committed to tourism development within the corridor designed to protect the intrinsic values and “real stories.” Sounds very, very familiar! Mr. Gorbachev envisions groups of Americans and others spending up to ten days traveling the route, staying at inns and enjoying interpretation and outstanding recreational activities, including fishing. It turns out the prominent Russian loves to fish. In addition, the Russian Heritage Highway Foundation is working with the National Tour Association to introduce the corridor to key group-tour industry leaders. Can byways in other nations be far behind this exciting venture? New Surface Transportation Bill Offers Much for Byways Although many questions remain unresolved as the Congress crafts a successor to TEA-21, every sign looks good for byways. Both the House-passed and Senate-passed versions of the legislation continue and expand the National Scenic Byways Program. The Senate-House conference committee is now at work resolving the many differences in the two bills (S 1072 and HR 3550) and working with the White House to craft a bill that can be signed into law this year. The Senate measure would provide $220 million for byways over six years; the House version would provide $285 million plus an additional $21 million for the America’s Byways Resource Center. Generally, the national byways partners are supporting the House-passed byways provisions— although we continue to seek a means to guard against earmarking of funding for projects not evaluated in the competitive grants process. And there is more good news. Both bills also continue other programs that assist scenic byways, including the Transportation Enhancements Program, the Intelligent Transportation Systems Program and a variety of bicycle/pedestrian/trail programs. The final legislation also is likely to boost funding for roads in national parks—many candidates for byways designation—and to boost other roads on federal lands, including some now designated as national forest scenic byways and BLM backcountry byways. Take Pride Update The Take Pride in America program continues to gather momentum. Take Pride celebrates the legacy all Americans share of one in three acres of the nation’s surface: national parks and forests, state and local sites— and byways. Take Pride also calls upon Americans to enjoy this legacy responsibly, and to become personally involved in public lands stewardship. One of the clear results has been an increase in volunteerism in certain regions, including southern California. It is time to see how Take Pride can be a useful tool for byways. One obvious opportunity involves volunteerism along the byways— to pick up litter and to build and maintain interpretive facilities. Take Pride can help identify willing volunteers, can provide national recognition for outstanding volunteer projects and can offer each volunteer a chance for a variety of awards and rewards. If you are interested, visit www.takepride.gov or write to the American Recreation Coalition for samples of the Take Pride Volunteer Guide and bumper sticker. Recreation, Tourism Indications Strong Despite higher gas prices, travel by car, SUV, RV and motorcycle continues to climb. Record and near-record visitation levels are predicted for many destinations, including national parks, by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA). Incidentally, TIA has followed up on its See America’s Byways 2003 promotion with a very ambitious See America’s Parks promotion in 2004. And sales of RVs and boats are up strongly for 2004. Moreover, economic forecasts for the next year are bright—so, byways travel should be strong for 2004-2005. Great Outdoors Month Proclaimed President George W. Bush recently proclaimed June as Great Outdoors Month. The proclamation was requested by the American Recreation Coalition but coordinated with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the American Hiking Society (organizer of National Trails Day), the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (organizer of National Boating and Fishing Week) and the Clean Beaches Council (organizer of National Clean Beaches Week). The President also noted the importance of time spent outdoors to physical, mental and spiritual health and the value of the Take Pride in America program in his proclamation. Recreation and tourism groups will be meeting over the summer to develop a strategy that will continue and expand this new opportunity for coordination and cooperation, and increase awareness of ways to enjoy America’s Great Outdoors. And, of course, byways can play a central role in this effort, since a large number of byways are tied to the nation’s premier recreation places! AMERICA’S BYWAYS(TM) DESIGNATION Designation as One ofAmerica’s Byways(TM): What Should We Expect After Nominations are Solicited? Editor’s Note: This is part of a continuing series of articles about the nomination of roads to join the distinct and diverse collection of America’s Byways. Future issues will supplement information currently available on the community Web site. Expectations - Yours, Ours and the Traveling Public’s The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Scenic Byways Program staff are developing the nomination materials for this next round. While we don’t have the online nomination outline in place as this is written, we do have a clear sense of our goals and objectives. We intend to revise the nomination format. We will be looking for information in a different form and structure than the one employed in 2002 (still available at http://www.bywaysonline.org/ designation/). The metaphor for the nomination document you submit takes the form of a Byway Guide highlighting the experience a byway visitor will have as they travel along your route. We expect the Byway Guide will begin by asking you to insert a statement capturing the “essence of your byway” so that reviewers can form a clear impression of what it would be like to drive the roads and experience the places that make your byway special. • What are the qualities that make your route significant? • What is it that defines the distinctive character of your byway? • Are there byways in your region that offer similar travel experiences? • How does the experience on your byway enhance the quality of the entire America’s Byways collection? • How can you creatively and clearly relate your byway’s Intrinsic Qualities to the experience of a byway traveler? Reviewers anticipate that a number of groups will be seeking designation, and we are looking for ways to help differentiate between the significant qualities each nominee presents. We intend to collect information that can be immediately incorporated into our traveler Web site, www.byways.org, and byway leaders who are expecting to submit a nomination should be reviewing the content available on the site. Remember, in addition to telling your story to nomination reviewers, you are preparing to share your byway’s story with the traveling public. To be part of the America’s Byways brand, your byway needs to convey its distinction beyond paper and translate that distinction into an experience enjoyed by travelers. The Traveler’s Web Site In promoting the America’s Byways collection, FHWA and our partners depend on the traveler’s Web site (www.byways.org) as our primary communication medium. This Web address has great value and recognition in the travel marketplace. It is integrally entwined with our brand. As you initially prepare to nominate your byway, we encourage you to look at the Web site, review all the available traveler information you have about your byway, and begin preparing the story you will tell in your Byway Guide. • How do travelers find their way along your byway? • Are all the Intrinsic Qualities you describe marked on maps and/or signed from byway roads, and are the stories behind these qualities integrated into your byway materials? • If designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, will your route provide important qualities that round out the collection of America’s Byways? The traveler Web site is a good place to start your research. Specifically, you can begin preparing information that will be integrated into the Web site. Think about the importance of conveying the experience of your byway visually. Do you have a good collection of images that convincingly present a traveler experience? Remember: a picture is worth a thousand words. Unless you already have photos that show your byway in the winter or spring, by the time you read this article, you will have missed your chance to convey these seasons as part of your nomination. We believe that collecting and displaying good photographs is fundamental to the effectiveness of the Web site. The Web site is a powerful tool for building anticipation of a productive byway travel experience. In the coming months, FHWA will use the Discussion Forums found at this link, http://www.bywaysonline.org/ share/forums/index.html, to provide information on photographic methods and advice. Look for documents that offer photography pointers, share ideas on technology, or discuss potential uses of photos. Have you thought about what travelers will find if they visit your byway the day following the designation event when the U.S. Secretary of Transportation announces the selection of your byway? Do you have signs to mark the way? Do you have a brochure? Do the groups that promote tourism in your area know the byway exists? Do you have travel itineraries that can be included at http://www.byways.org/plan/ on the traveler Web site? Have you driven your entire byway route? If you haven’t, we recommend you think about what you experience through the eyes of a traveler who hasn’t been there before. Capturing the Essence of Your Byway The expectation of FHWA and the reviewers who will analyze and make recommendations about your route is that, once we have read your nomination Byway Guide, we can form a clear impression of the qualities your byway will bring to the America’s Byways collection. To make that assessment, we need to understand your byway story, appreciate the significance of your Intrinsic Qualities, and know what forms the heart of your byway’s travel experience. In this issue of Vistas, the America’s Byways Resource Center prepared an article about stewardship that helps byway leaders understand how to think about the “essence of byways.” You may find the stewardship article helpful in relating the essence of your byway with your byway’s resources. These resources support your byway’s Intrinsic Qualities. Byway leaders are encouraged to read and understand the information (see cover story). In particular, the section labeled “Identifying the Essence” will have application for a nomination. In addition, “Take a Comprehensive Inventory” offers useful advice on how to focus on the potential of your route. Can you, as the article asks, “convey the character of your byway to a stranger in two sentences or less?” The online nomination will ask you to create that two-sentence statement. Creating a Byway Guide Until the online nomination is complete, we are left to speculate on the features that will be used to draw out this information. However, it isn’t too soon to begin outlining the byway story you want to tell. • What do your resources contribute to the travel experience on your byway? • How do you weave the various attractions and resource sites into what you tell a traveler? • To capture a description of the essence of your byway, how will you harness the passion of byway folks who believe strongly in the byway and its resources? • Do you have a way to infuse the Byway Guide, your nomination document, with what it feels like to drive the road and experience the resources that make your place special? • Having reviewed the features of www.byways.org, can you begin developing one or more itineraries that convey what your road has to offer? As you anticipate the next nomination-cycle requirements, use your time to see your route from the perspective of a traveler who has not been there before. Your Byway Guide must explain what can be experienced on your route and why your byway adds value and quality to the collection of America’s Byways. AMERICA’S BYWAYS(TM) Center Stage at TIA’s International Pow Wow(R) in Los Angeles, April 24-28, 2004 Los Angeles is known for its fast pace and its sizzle, and the Travel Industry Association’s annual international travel trade show, Pow Wow, lived up to the city’s reputation. Over 5,000 delegates, including a record 400 international and domestic journalists and 1,500 international delegates from 71 countries, attended the show (see sidebar). America’s Byways™ was front and center—TIA’s See America’s Byways display was showcased in the center of the exhibit hall, and the America’s Byways booth was a very popular destination. Preparations for International Pow Wow 2004 started before the show doors opened. Pre-Pow Wow, California Byways were contacted and asked to contribute promotional materials—brochures, posters, postcards, etc.—for the America’s Byways booth. Kat Eisenman from the Death Valley Scenic Byway contributed a beautiful National Park poster; Constance Jones from San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway sent us press kits; and John Halligan from Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway provided oversized postcards. Nicole Possert from the Arroyo Seco Historic Parkway- Route 110 participated in one of TIA’s pre-PowWow press tours, where she told the story of her Byway to 25 members of the media (see sidebar for complete story). Terry Selk, from the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC), coordinated the California Post Tours. He agreed to distribute America’s Byways maps to all the tour participants, too. To reinforce the connections among the Byways and the various government agencies, MapQuest created and donated an oversized poster of the America’s Byways map, and the logos from our government partners were displayed on the bottom. The logos represented the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, National Endowment for the Arts, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Commerce, and U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration. Courtney Lyell made sure that the exhibit display, furniture, rugs and promotional materials were delivered on time. Stephen Clyde and his Web site team made up an electronic press release CD that contained an image of each byway, fact sheets and press releases. These were given out at the booth and at various press outlets. On the trade show floor, the America’s Byways double booth was made up to look like you were driving on a byway. Sets of bucket seats were placed at the booth instead of chairs, and business was conducted in a comfortable environment. The booth participants represented public and private sector byway leaders and partners. Teresa Mitchell and Greg Marshall came from the Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway, Monte Hurley (with occasional assistance from Shelley Johnson) represented the Creole Nature Trail, Floyd Thompson spoke for the Forest Service, and Ron Erdmann participated on behalf of the Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel & Tourism Industries. Each booth received an appointment schedule consisting of 50 possible 20-minute time slots. America’s Byways had 44 slots filled before the show, with multiple appointments in some of the slots, to speak with a variety of tourism-related people— the new travel wholesaler, travel writer, tour operator, or other interested international buyer. They wanted to learn about our Byways and about the kind of activities and experiences provided. We were all really busy and excited about the great interest in our product! Other Byway representatives spread the Byway message while they worked in their State Tourism Office booths. Sharon Gaiptman’s Pow Wow booth let everyone know what it was about—they displayed Alaska’s Marine Highway Alaska’s Scenic Byways signage. In addition to the booth appointments, Mobil Travel Guide Vice President Kevin Bristow held a press briefing with international media to talk about the Mobil Travel Guide’s America’s Byways series. There was great interest and the briefing room was full. Teresa Mitchell and Ron Erdmann also distributed America’s Byways electronic press releases at the Media Marketplace event. At the end of the show, representatives from the Park Service, TIA, the Office of Travel & Tourism Industries and the Forest Service met informally to talk about possible partnership opportunities in the future. TIA International Pow Wow 2005 will be held May 3-7 in New York City. The National Scenic Byways Program team will reach out to Byway leaders again to join us in the America’s Byways booth. Costs for the booth are split among the participants—registration, housing and transportation are the individual attendees’ responsibility. We hope you will consider joining us to spread the word about America’s Byways, the collection of 96 distinct and diverse roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. See you in New York City! Article contributed by Patricia McNally, Marketing Director, National Scenic Byways Program SIDEBAR: Courtesy of the TIA Web site, www.tia.org: What is TIA’s International Pow Wow(R)? Not A Typical Trade Show TIA’s International Pow Wow is the travel industry’s premier international marketplace and is the largest generator of Visit USA travel—it is NOT a typical trade show. In just three days of intensive pre-scheduled, computer-generated business appointments, more than 1,000 U.S. travel organizations from every region of the USA, and representing all industry category components, and more than 1,500 international delegates and domestic buyers from more than 70 countries conduct business negotiations that result in the generation of close to $3 billion in future Visit USA travel. At International Pow Wow, buyers and sellers are able to conduct business that would otherwise be generated only through an exhaustive number of around-the-world trips. TIA’s International Pow Wow Delivers Premier International and Domestic Buyers International Pow Wow’s success is dependent on the quality and quantity of international and domestic buyers that it attracts. With input from both the International Advisory Committees and the U.S. suppliers, international and domestic buyer delegates are invited to participate in International Pow Wow and are pre-qualified based on their proven capability to sell the USA as a travel destination. International Pow Wow Business Appointments To help each attending firm make the most of its time, business appointments at International Pow Wow are pre-scheduled in advance by a computer program based on international and domestic buyer and U.S. supplier requests. Registration and organization profile information received in advance is included in the International Pow Wow Appointment Guide and the Appointment Guide Online. This Guide serves as a resource document for requesting business appointments. All requests are submitted via an Appointment Request Form (either paper or electronic format). U.S. suppliers can pre- schedule up to 44 appointments per booth (not per delegate). International and domestic buyers can schedule up to 44 appointments per delegate. Want To Know How To Participate? Go to www.tia.org for more information. PHOT0: Joel Frank, Chief of Tourism, NE Region, National Park Service; Floyd Thompson, Tourism Industry Liaison and Scenic Byway Program Leader, USDA Forest Service; Patricia McNally, Marketing Director of National Scenic Byways Program; Doug Baker, Deputy Assistant Secretary, DOC Services Industries, Tourism & Finance; William S. Norman, TIA President & CEO; Bruce Wolff, TIA National Chair and Executive Vice President of Marriott International; and Helen Marano, Director, DOC Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI). PHOTO: Seated: Teresa Mitchell, Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway and Monte Hurley, Creole Nature Trail. Standing: Floyd Thompson, Tourism Industry Liaison and Scenic Byway Program Leader, USDA Forest Service; Ron Erdmann, Deputy Director, DOC Office of Travel & Tourism Industries; Patricia McNally, Marketing Director of National Scenic Byways Program; and Greg Marshall, VP & Director of Marketing, Greater Rochester Visitors Bureau. SIDEBAR: Public Transit Adventure: Arroyo Seco Region Pow Wow Tour by Nicole Possert, marketing representative for the Arroyo Seco Parkway National Scenic Byway Every year as part of TIA’s International Pow Wow, domestic and international press are invited on familiarization trips of the host city. This year’s press tour, “A Public Transit Adventure,” showcased a few key Los Angeles tourist destinations that are easy to access via public transit. The trip was on the Metro Gold Line, which opened to the public in July 2003, traversing the Arroyo Seco region that connects downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena. The Gold Line light rail crosses over Arroyo Seco Parkway (State Route 110) at two scenic locations and traverses through the entire historic and cultural corridor of the Arroyo Seco Parkway National Scenic Byway. About 25 press representatives took the tour and visited two premiere destinations: the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in San Marino and the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles. Upon arriving at the Southwest Museum (the city’s very first museum), the media were greeted by a Native American flutist. The tour also showcased the art at each Metro station, and there was an MTA Art docent to talk about the work and the local artist commissioned. During the tour, I gave the media an overview of this National Scenic Byway while they looked out the windows of the Gold Line passenger train. At the end of the tour, all were treated to a special reward—a refreshing bottle of Belfast Sparking Cider with a commemorative label depicting the Gold Line and the region’s architectural icon, the Southwest Museum. Galco’s Soda Pop Stopin the Highland Park area of Los Angeles created this product. Galco’s, another unique visitor destination in the Arroyo Seco Parkway National Scenic Byway corridor, is internationally known for its vast product line of over 450 varieties of sodas and beverages (www.sodapopstop.com). Overall, the event was very successful and the folks attending really enjoyed their public transit adventure. And, of course, they learned more about the Arroyo Seco Parkway—one of America’s Byways. Driving the Byways Coal Heritage Trail, West Virginia Byway Length: 97.56 miles Time to Allow: At least three hours Designations: National Scenic Byway, June 9, 1998 Before coal was discovered in southern West Virginia, very few people lived there. As mining developed into an industry, the coal extracted from the rugged mountains became the fuel that drove the industrial revolution in our country. The story of the Coal Heritage Trail is the story of resilient men and women, of families who spent generations mining coal, of incredible racial and ethnic diversity, of strong, close-knit communities, and of isolation, danger and violence. Declines in the coal industry have left behind deserted mining sites and remnants of once-thriving company towns. Small commercial districts line the narrow valleys, and modest residential areas climb the steep mountains. Designated in 1998, the Coal Heritage Trail National Scenic Byway is located within the National Coal Heritage Area, which includes eleven counties. The Coal Heritage Trail passes many physical remnants of the coal boom—coal miners’ homes, company stores, company offices, railroad yards and other structures that defined life in the “smokeless coal fields.” Several National Register Historic Districts mark the Trail, too. Along the northern loop of the Trail near Ansted, the Coal Heritage Trail follows State Route 16 into the New River Gorge close to Cotton Hill and then overlaps with the Midland Trail to Hico. Traveling down State Route 19, the Coal Heritage Trail passes through the New River Gorge National Park and crosses the famed New River Gorge Bridge. For years, crossing the New River Gorge meant long detours or carefully winding your way down narrow mountain roads. The New River Gorge Bridge was completed on October 22, 1977, and stands as the second longest single arch steel span in the world. The Canyon Rim Visitors Center stands at the northern end of the bridge. Operated by the National Park Service, the Canyon Rim Visitors Center provides spectacular views of the New River Gorge and offers an excellent introduction to regional mining activity and life in the coalfields. A spur of the Trail, known as Fayette Station Road, traverses National Park Service land as it winds down the north side of the New River Gorge, exiting on the southern rim of the Gorge. This spur links many of the area’s earliest mines. Traveling south through Fayetteville (home to the beautiful Fayette County Courthouse), Oak Hill and Mt. Hope, the Coal Heritage Trail enters Raleigh County where the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine in the heart of New River Park offers visitors a realistic look at early 20th-century coal mining. Visitors can ride an authentic “man trip” —a device that carried miners from the mine entrance to the section of mine they were working—for a tour 500 feet beneath the park hillsides through nearly 1,500 feet of passages of an authentic vintage coal mine. Exhibits throughout the mine explore the history of low-seam coal mining from hand-loading days into the era of modern mechanization. The guides are veteran miners who provide detailed answers and firsthand accounts. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the mine was opened by the Phillips family in the late 1800s, one of many small family-owned operations of that period. Visitors can also peruse the coal mining museum, tour authentic coal camp homes, schools and churches, and browse the craft and souvenir shop. Leaving Beckley, the southern portion of the Coal Heritage Trail takes you deep into coal country as it passes through the town of Sophia. Sophia served as the northern commercial center of the Winding Gulf Coalfield, which extended south to Mullens. The Winding Gulf Field was initially mined by a small number of men. One of the most important of these men was Major W. P. Tams. He built the town of Tams, where he lived in the same cottage until his death in the late 1970s. The Byway also passes through what were once thriving coal camps, including the towns of Stotesbury, Helen, Amigo and Allen Junction, and the railroad town of Mullens. The trip from Mullens to Pineville takes you along the scenic Guyandotte River and past the majestic Pocahontas Fuel Company Store. This company store was built in 1925 as the center of coal camp life in Itmann. Itmann is named for I. T. Mann, an early coal operator who lived in Bramwell and started the Bank of Bramwell. Built of locally quarried sandstone cut by immigrant Italian stone masons, the structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and currently is not open to the public. At Pineville, the Wyoming County Courthouse overlooks the town. Built in 1916, the Wyoming County Courthouse serves as a monument to Wyoming County’s early 20thcentury coal boom expansion. Constructed of locally quarried stone, the courthouse is built in a heavy, Neoclassical Revival style and has recently been restored to its earlier grandeur. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Courthouse is open to the public during business hours. Leaving Pineville, the Trail travels across Indian Ridge into McDowell County and the City of Welch. Once known as Little Chicago, Welch was an important service town for the southern coalfields. The region’s ethnic diversity is apparent in the architecture of its remaining commercial buildings, churches and homes. Incorporated in 1893, Welch began a period of rapid growth with the introduction of the Norfolk and Western Railroad into the town. The commercial district grew as more coal mines opened. A 1911 fire destroyed much of the town, but it was quickly rebuilt. The residential areas climbed the steep hillsides and today the Historic District is quite compact due to the rugged topography of the region. The predominant style of the buildings is early commercial architecture constructed between 1900 and 1941. Welch is also the county seat and features the McDowell County Courthouse, famous as the site of the murder of Sid Hatfield and Ed Chambers during the struggle to unionize the southern coalfields. Leaving Welch on U. S. Route 52, the Coal Heritage Trail meanders through the small mining communities of Kimball, Keystone and Northfork and passes into the community of Elkhorn. In Kimball, restoration of the War Memorial to African American Miners is currently taking place, with a Fall 2004 opening anticipated. Also from Welch, two spurs from the Coal Heritage Trail take you to the communities of Gary and Coalwood. The community of Coalwood was recently featured as the hometown of Homer Hickam in the movie October Sky and is currently the site of the annual October Sky Festival. Entering Mercer County at the base of Coalwood Mountain, you pass by coke ovens, relics of the mining boom era. In Bramwell, the Nick J. Rahall Coal Heritage Interpretive Center, a replica of the Railroad Depot that served Bramwell, sits amidst the elegant mansions built by the coal mine owners for their families. Now private residences, the mansions are occasionally opened for visitors and special tours can be arranged in advance. Serving as the southern interpretive center for the Coal Heritage Trail, the Bramwell Heritage Depot is a source for information regarding the Pocahontas Coal Fields and the entire Coal Heritage Trail. The Depot features historical displays and interpretive materials, including a walking tour brochure of the Bramwell National Register Historic District. A spur of the Trail leads from Bramwell to historic Pocahontas, Virginia, where you may visit the Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, the Pocahontas Coal Mine was the first mine in the Pocahontas Coalfield. Opened in 1882, the Pocahontas Mine features a spectacular 13-foot-tall coal seam that visitors can walk through. The Coal Heritage Trail reaches its southern terminus in downtown Bluefield. The center for railroad activity in the region, Bluefield was a service town for the mining communities and home to railroad and coal company offices. Bluefield boasts an elegant historic district with self-guided walking tours available. The Eastern Regional Coal Archives are located in Bluefield as is the lovely Bluefield Arts and Sciences Center, home to the Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau. As you travel the Coal Heritage Trail, keep in mind that some areas are quite remote with few services; you also pass through small towns with varying speed limits. The Coal Heritage Trail crosses rugged mountains and runs beside streams and rivers, creating a narrow and curvy route at times. While the unique terrain certainly invites you to explore, we ask that you drive safely as you enjoy the culture and history of the region that helped build America. For more information contact: Coal Heritage Highway Authority PO Box 5176 Beckley, West Virginia 25801 304-256-6941 Email: coalheritagetrail@verizon.net For information on lodging and other area attractions contact: Southern West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau 200 Main Street Beckley, West Virginia 25801 304-252-2244 www.visitwv.com Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau 500 Bland Street Bluefield, West Virginia 24701 304-325-8438 www.mccvb.com New River Convention and Visitors Bureau 310 Oyler Avenue Oak Hill, West Virginia 25901 304-465-5617 www.newrivercvb.com PHOTO: Take a trip underground at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. PHOTO: The Wyoming County Courthouse is located in Pineville and is one of the four courthouses along the Coal Heritage Trail that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. PHOTO: A view of the New River, an American Heritage River, from Hawks Nest State Park along the Coal Heritage Trail. WHO’S WHO AND WHERE! The Updated Directory for Byways NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM STAFF Rob Draper Team Leader 202-366-4649 rdraper@fhwa.dot.gov Bethaney Bacher Accounts Manager 202-366-4196 bethaney.bacher@fhwa.dot.gov Courtney Lyell Clearinghouse Coordinator 202-366-1929 courtney.lyell@fhwa.dot.gov Dennis Adams Program Manager 202-366-6515 dennis.adams@fhwa.dot.gov Patricia S. McNally Marketing Manager 202-366-9766 patricia.mcnally@fhwa.dot.gov AMERICA’S BYWAYS RESOURCE CENTER STAFF Henry Hanka Director 218-625-3306 hhanka@byways.org Michelle Johnson Deputy Director 218-625-3305 mjohnson@byways.org Jeanine Buck Information Resource Coordinator 218-625-3310 jbuck@byways.org Leah Kohlts Communications Specialist/ Event Planner 218-625-3301 lkohlts@byways.org Jeff Plunkett Technology Specialist 218-722-5545 jplunkett@byways.org Chel Ethun Byways Resource Specialist 218-625-3303 methun@byways.org Susan Koschak Byways Resource Specialist 218-625-3307 skoschak@byways.org Curt Pianalto Byways Resource Specialist 218-625-3304 cpianalto@byways.org STATE ABRC STAFF FHWA STAFF Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher District of Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Kansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Kentucky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Louisiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Nevada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher New Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher North Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Vermont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Curt Pianalto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher West Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chel Ethun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Adams Wyoming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Susan Koschak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethaney Bacher CELEBRATING CELEBRITIES CELEBRATING CELEBRITIES Advocates for Take Pride in America Program By Derrick Crandall, President, American Recreation Coalition In May, I had the chance to spend time with Clint Eastwood as he agreed to once again be a national spokesperson for the Take Pride in America program. The Associated Press (AP) reported his announcement in a story that ran on the national wire and appeared in literally hundreds of papers across the nation, including major dailies. The visibility the Take Pride program received was great—and a little surprising. And it made me think about the lessons we could take away for use in providing the National Scenic Byways Program—-and specific Byways—-with deserved attention. Let’s start with a little background on Take Pride in America and Clint Eastwood. When Take Pride began in 1985, a key objective was to reverse a sharp increase in vandalism at parks and recreation sites across the United States. After approval as a national campaign by the Ad Council, Take Pride was assigned an ad agency to help address this need. The agency told us that we needed to find messages and spokespersons able to reach young males—-the primary culprits. We found a trio of willing celebrities: Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson and Lou Gossett. All were current stars and each agreed to do TV, radio and print public service announcements (PSAs). Clint Eastwood signed on for even more, including personal appearances and participation in the annual Take Pride awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Working with him, we learned that his participation stemmed from a real passion for parks and the outdoors, making him an ideal media contact, even without a script. And we found out that his term as mayor of Carmel, California, left him very aware of vandalism and youth violence. Since those early Take Pride days, Clint Eastwood has continued his interest in the outdoors. He now serves on the California State Parks Advisory Committee and has even recorded an audio tour for California Highway 1 through Big Sur. And we are now working on a new round of PSAs for Take Pride in America. He is a very busy man, so finding time to work with him is a challenge, particularly when trying to mesh his calendar with other busy people like the Secretary of the Interior. But he is also sincere and very understanding, and very undemanding. It is time to boost the visibility of the National Scenic Byways Program and our spectacular collection of designated roads; celebrity advocates are clearly helpful in this effort. Celebrities can be advantageous for special events and on Web sites, in marketing efforts and as the presenters in audio, video and interactive media guides to Byways. They can host media familiarization tours (fam tours) and write letters to businesses along the routes, seeking membership in Byways friends organizations. They can testify at local and state legislative hearings on funding needs and more. They can appear on news and other TV programs, talking about Byways and their favorite Byway. See the points below to learn more. BOX: Remember some key points in your work with celebrities: 1) Your celebrity can come from a variety of arenas but needs a connection to your area and cause. Good celebrities include sports figures and entertainment personalities, but also current and retired elected officials, prominent business executives, authors and current news and communications personnel. Willard Scott is an excellent example of the last category. 2) Pursue a celebrity that means something to your key targeted audiences. Clint Eastwood, as wonderful as he is, drew an interesting response from fifth graders at a recent Take Pride event in California. Fewer than a third of the kids knew who he was, and an even smaller percentage of the kids of color. On the other hand, Mr. Eastwood continues to be very attractive to the “boomer” generation and others. 3) Have a clear plan for leveraging the celebrity’s status, and be ready to take action. Especially initially, the celebrity needs to take on a specific, short-duration project and feel he or she made a real contribution. Be prepared: have funding and other elements in place if you are asking your celebrity to play a role in PSAs or an event. 4) Be prepared to provide background materials. If your celebrity does interviews and will be at events focusing on Byways, he or she should want to be able to talk knowledgeably about the Byway—and you need to help. 5) Be very, very specific about any commercial use of materials showing your celebrity. Be aware that an audio guide to your Byway narrated by your celebrity that will be sold may raise contractual issues for your celebrity. 6) Have a candid conversation about any costs for which you will be responsible. We had an uncomfortable situation develop with a celebrity – not Clint Eastwood! – in which very large hotel telephone, gift shop and room service costs were passed along to us. The costs had nothing to do with our event or even our “cause.” Yet the celebrity informed us that we were responsible for the costs because he was in town to help us. We paid, but changed the way we deal with that celebrity. 7) Express appreciation. Highlight any visibility for your Byway arising from the celebrity’s involvement. Link the celebrity with “white hat” topics and issues, and help the celebrity steer clear of controversies. I invite you to share your celebrity experiences to help your colleagues in the Byways community know whom to contact, how to approach celebrities, and ways to leverage that “star” status. We’ll share reports in future Vistas.  PHOTO: Clint Eastwood is a national spokesperson for Take Pride in America. 2004 Calendar Send calendar entries by the 5th of each month to center@byways.org AUGUST August 3-5, 2004 2004 Power Workshops: Strength Training for Byways Regional Training Event Boise, Idaho For more information, please contact Jeanine Buck E-mail: jbuck@byways.org or visit: http://www.bywaysonline.org/community/ center/workshops/ SEPTEMBER September 17-21, 2004 AASHTO Annual Meeting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania For more information, please visit: http://assetmanagement.transportation.org/ tam/aashto.nsf/docs/F1835419B9CA539685 256D3400642210?opendocument&Current Category=Event%20Calendar September 28 - October 3, 2004 Restore America: Communities at a Crossroads - National Preservation Conference 2004 Louisville, Kentucky For more information, please visit: http://www.nthpconference.org/GeneralInfo/ OCTOBER October 3-6, 2004 NAHBA 7th Annual Conference On the Control of Outdoor Advertising National Alliance of Highway Beautification Agencies Salt Lake City, Utah For more information, please contact: Barbara Wessinger at Wessingebm@dot.state.sc.us October 28-31, 2004 Land Trust Alliance Rally Providence, Rhode Island For more information, please visit: http://www.lta.org/training/rally.htm NOVEMBER November 3-4, 2004 Minnesota Scenic Byways Workshop Holiday Inn Downtown Waterfront Duluth, Minnesota November 7-10, 2004 URISA 2004 Urban & Regional Information Systems Association Reno, Nevada For more information, please visit: www.urisa.org November 16-20, 2004 An Interpreter’s Voyage NAI National Interpreter’s Workshop Grand Rapids, Michigan For more information, please visit: http://www.interpnet.com/niw2004/ Outgoing Director Dan Marriott Recognized for Leadership Contributions The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently announced the resignation of Dan Marriott as Director of the Rural Heritage Program. Dan has been the Director of the program since 1998 and had been the Program Associate since 1993. He leaves an important legacy at the National Trust and with many partners and communities across the country. Dan introduced preservation and planning concepts to scores of communities and hundreds of individuals from Maine to Hawaii. Through his leadership and in conjunction with a range of valued partners, he initiated the biennial Preserving the Historic Road in America conference, the fourth of which occurred April 22-25 in Portland, Oregon. During his time at the Trust, Dan has authored two books, Saving Historic Roads, Design and Policy Guidelines (John Wiley and Sons, 1998) and From Milestones to Mile-markers: Understanding Historic Roads (America’s Byways Resource Center, 2004). Dan has also provided important participation in the National Scenic Byways Program. He continuously provided a historic roadway preservation perspective to our many byway events and partner meetings. In addition, Dan has been a wonderful contributor to many programs and publications of the America’s Byways Resource Center. We thank him and wish him well. SIDEBAR: America’s BywaysTM Resource Center Arrowhead Regional Development Commission 227 West First Street, Suite 610 Duluth, MN 55802 SIDEBAR: VISTAS is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, processed chlorine free.